RJS on “The Moral Landscape”

While great minds think alike, sometimes I think that one so-so mind and one great mind can also do the same. By the way, RJS is the great mind in this analogy.

I saw that Thursday she had a post on an interview with Sam Harris, who is out promoting his new book, The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values. This book has been getting a lot of attention as you might expect, and while I think Sam Harris and the book’s title are being way too grandiose, I do believe we will find something from this line of thinking. Of course, a subtitle about how science can provide a nugget or two to an ongoing discussion probably won’t drive up sales.

3 thoughts on “RJS on “The Moral Landscape””

(I tried posting this before but it’s not showing or “saying in moderation,” so will try again)

Could you elaborate a bit? What sort of hypotheses could be tested to prove, for example, whether good or evil even exist, let alone start discriminating between them? Or what experiment could prove or disprove what is beautiful, whether God exists, or whether there will be a final judgment? Or are you saying that these questions are somehow illusory and can be answered when re-framed in a scientific way?

Mike, let me think about this more, since it’s not my field of expertise. But I will start by saying that the experiments will not provide us with a complete answer. They can only supplement what other disciplines have also revealed. Not a punt at all, but let me think about it while I watch my Iowa Hawkeyes and I’ll attempt to come up with a list.

Also, remember that I think Harris is being WAY too grandiose. The insight will be there, I think, but not in a way he is professing.